Hello World, I trust another day has passed with you offering yourself confidence in knowing that your goals will be accomplished; whatever those goals may be, making your next mortgage payment, making it to work on time, getting your child through their next class, catching the eye of a potential suitor or remembering to love yourself more. Whatever you need to achieve, know that it starts with you and the assurance you offer yourself.

I was asked recently to offer advice to a youth group in hopes to encourage them within their education. I am comfortable with spontaneous moments but this situation was important to me, as I consider myself an individual who offers motivation. Oddly enough, my heart rate elevated and I stood there in thought for several seconds. Normally, that is not like me. But as I looked into the eyes of those young males and females, I remembered being a young teenager and not having a role model, past the hustlers on my block or the prostitutes in my home. The word DESIRE came to mind and I thought about my desires of wanting to live in a healthier environment, eat healthier food, wear clean clothes and enjoy life like the Huxtables' did on television every Thursday night back in the early eighties.

Yet this is reality, and those types of escapisms only lasted during a thirty minute episode. So I stated openly, from my heart, that I DESIRED a life that was positive and healthy growing up, so I made some promises to myself. I told them that my DESIRE was never to become a drug addict like the many people who bought dope from my biological father. I also explained that I DESIRED to learn more because I believe that "EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS IN ALL AREAS OF ONES LIFE". I promised myself to attend all my classes at school and to not drink alcohol or sell drugs. I explained to them that my desire to eliminate certain negative behaviors and actions from my life also eliminated the possibility of me ever having to worry about becoming a drug addict, an alcoholic, and most importantly a man who profited from the demise of weaker individuals by manipulating them or providing them with a remedy to hide from reality.

My advice to that youth group was; "do some soul searching and discover what your truest desires are", some of you may want to become professional athletes, millionaires, entertainers and possibly politicians. Create a positive path to that desire in which you cannot deviate from. While you are pursuing those goals, understand that your desire is what makes you the person you aim to become. If you desire to be feared, you are more likely to engage in violent behavior. If you desire to obtain quick money, you are more likely to take negative advantage of those who trust you. If you desire success without personal effort, you may find yourself in situations where people refuse to support you.

I asked those young people to picture themselves in a position of having already accomplished their goals. Then, while they are standing there surrounded by their achievements, I asked them to imagine what life would be like if they held true to their promises. With that in mind, I asked them to imagine life if they did not adhere to their promises. I told those young people that desire is ultimately what will dictate the majority of their life outcomes. I also told them that the promises that they make to themselves will allow them to discover what their truest desire is.

I conclude with a question for you; "What is your desire in life and how do you obtain it, for yourself?"